Manager Andy Coyles has praised today’s opponents Sunderland RCA ahead of their clash with Penrith AFC at Frenchfield Park.

The Sunderland side have made an impressive start to their campaign, sitting seventh in Northern League Division One, and will provide the Bonny Blues, bottom of the league, with a stern test this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

Coyles was full of praise for Martin Swales’ men.

“They have had a very good start to the season. Any time I have come across Sunderland RCA, I have always been impressed with them,” he said.

“I have a number of injuries, so it never gets any easier.

"But that’s just the way football is, I guess.”

Michael Yarker, Tom Fowler and Kyle Lofthouse are unavailable, while striker Shaun Gardner is a fitness doubt, having suffered a dead leg in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Whitley Bay.

Penrith have still only collected two points from 14 league fixtures this term.

But Coyles says he can see improvement in the side since he took the reins last month.